Passionate about effecting change in the health and government sectors

Stephen McKernan QSO

EY Oceania Advisory Partner and Government & Public Sector Lead

Health system design specialist. Former public servant. Wannabe chef. Guitar player.

Stephen specialises in health system design, strategy and policy development the successful management of change, and development and leadership of large and complex organisations.

He draws on unparalleled leadership in the health sector. As a former Director-General of Health for New Zealand, Stephen was the government’s principal advisor on health and disability matters. He led the development and the performance of the New Zealand health system, including responsibility for the allocation and monitoring of the NZ$13 billion Vote Health spend. While in that role, Stephen represented New Zealand on the Executive Board and Programme Budget Committee of the World Health Organisation. He also represented New Zealand at the annual Commonwealth Fund Symposium on Health System Performance. 
 
Stephen was the Managing Partner of Health Partners Consulting Group, a leading health consultancy, which merged with EY in 2015.

He is a Honorary Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Health Management, an Honorary Fellow of the Australian College of Health Service Executives, he is is a Member of the New Zealand Institute of Company Directors. In 2012 Stephen was awarded a Queens Honour being made a Companion of the Queens Service Order (QSO) for his services to the State.

How Stephen is building a better working world

"I enjoy doing great work with great people, providing advice and working with clients on issues that impact the lives of others. My personal drive is to provide new insights and solutions to the most intractable problems agencies and organisations face."

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